The problem with voting is that you only get one, no matter how passionate or apathetic you are about a particular candidate or issue. So how can you increase your influence on an election? (Legally?) I've compiled a list of tips to help you freshen up since your tenth grade civics class—including some tricks they don't teach you in high school—with plenty of links for resources, inspiration and taking action. Photo by Bernard Pollack.Register: You don't get to vote at all if you're not registered, and for you citizens of Alabama, Connecticut, Nebraska, and Vermont it's not too late. Declare Yourself has a handy state-by-state guide to regulations with links to state web sites where you can learn how to sign up. If you're too late this year, register now while the shame and guilt from neglecting your civic duty is still a fresh reminder. That way you can feel superior next time around, and feeling superior is part of what makes this country great. Vote early: Even better than smirking at someone who isn't registered is smirking at someone before election day because you've already voted. You can choose to receive an absentee ballot, especially if you're far away from where you are registered. Fill it out and mail it in and you're done, with no waiting in lines. Some municipalities also open special polling stations that are open ahead of election day—I'll be dropping by to vote at San Francisco's City Hall before going to a fundraiser tonight. The Early Voting Information Center has a handy breakdown of options by state. Vote often: While voter turnout even for presidential elections can be depressing, it's actually the peak for the election participation cycle. But elections happen every year, and often more than once thanks to party primaries, special elections, and local laws. When fewer people turn out, your vote is mathematically more meaningful. And if you're a member in good standing of a particular party, you can influence who and what is supported and how money is spent by participating in local chapter elections. The Democrats and Republicans make it easy to find your local party leadership. Propaganda: Now more than ever the average citizen can participate in the three-ring media circus before an election. Create a custom t-shirt, bake some cupcakes, print some stickers, or get better informed with online tools to make your arguments more persuasive. It's all an opportunity to promote your point of view and engage others. Whatever you do, don't hurt your chances by becoming a font of spam. But a likeness of your favored candidate lovingly carved from a brick of SPAM™? Awesome. Dirty tricks: Propaganda's evil twin, political dirty tricks are a regrettable, unethical debasement of the democratic process—and can be highly effective. Wild rumors and innuendo? Distributed denial of service attacks? Okay, the latter could get you into real trouble, so try to keep your ambitions in "practical joke" territory. The former is a grand national tradition, though you might want to take a refresher in staying anonymous online software tools like Tor and tips from Lifehacker readers before sending out that ad hominem attack email. Donations: It was founding father George Washington who first said "Money talks and bull#@%! walks," for which he was honored with a portrait on the dollar bill (at least I think I read that on Wikipedia once). And don't let campaign finance laws get in your spendy way—state and national parties, political action committees and tax-exempt political organizations will be happy to take your money, with considerably higher limits if any and much less disclosure required. The Federal Election Commission web site is a great reference for finance laws and guidelines for national elections. Phone banking: Legions of Americans are reporting to phone banking centers across the country to make calls on behalf of campaigns. The Barack Obama campaign even released an iPhone application that organizes your contacts to make it easy to make calls to fellow supporters (or, if you're a John McCain fan, easy to prank call them). My advice? Just kick back with a frosty beverage and start going through your address book—a voluntary, personal call from a friend will be much more effective than an automated recording or a complete stranger. For help, The Five Basic Skills of Phone Canvassing [PDF] offers some basic tips. Canvassing: Going door-to-door can help get people registered, out to polls, and contributing—and you get exercise, a warm feeling of having contributed, and stony glares from people who hate you and what you stand for. If you live in a state that's not "in play," meaning it's likely to be a landslide for one candidate or the other, there's nothing stopping you from crossing state lines looking for undecided voters to charm. A handy canvassing guide from eHow will let you know what to expect. Contact your pet party or organization's campaign office to volunteer and wear comfortable shoes. Think global: The President of the United States is often called the "leader of the free world," and for folks around the world sometimes it may seem like "whether you like it or not." Americans abroad can vote by absentee ballots, and non-citizens around the world can campaign online and even make contributions to parties and lobbying organizations. Ask MetaFilter readers have handy tips for non-citizen residents who'd like to participate in the process. Act local: Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin won her first election for mayor of Wasilla, AK by only 211 votes (out of 898). Your local county or municipal government are more accessible, and are far more likely to have power over things that affect your life day-to-day, from potholes to public transportation, arts funding to property taxes; third parties and independent candidates are actual forces to be reckoned with; ballot measures, voter propositions and referendums in some states and districts allow laws to be created or stricken by popular demand; and campaign budgets are relatively meager, so even small donations go a long way. Win or lose, at least you'll know you made a significant impact. Tell us your own success stories, share your frustrations, and let us know what you're doing in the name of freedom and democracy in the comments.